Federal Studio Director

Description

• Serve as a primary point of contact for architectural aspects of federal projects and liaise with contracting officers and federal representatives.
• Mentor architectural staff in design excellence, documentation standards, and federal project delivery methods (Design-Build, Design-Bid-Build, IDIQ, CMAR, etc.).
• Ensure adherence to contract scope, documentation, and reporting requirements.
• Train and develop a high performing, engaged architectural team within the Federal Studio to achieve studio/project objectives. Ensure direct reports are accountable for the performance of their staff/teams.
• Review and support consultant agreements, fee proposals, and scopes of work in coordination with the Federal Market Sector Principal.
• Provide oversight to the Studio’s Architectural Manager who is responsible for technical leadership and quality assurance for the architectural design team.
• Partner with engineering discipline directors, project managers, and the Federal Market Sector Principal to align goals and ensure project success.
• Provide leadership, mentorship, and direction for the architectural staff assigned to federal projects.
• Monitor performance and professionalism of staff and provide informal and formal feedback.
• Serve as a visible advocate and subject matter expert in the federal design community through speaking engagements and professional involvement.
• Encourage cross-discipline innovation and collaboration to enhance efficiency and creativity in project delivery.
• Provide oversight to the project managers, monitor and evaluate project schedules and profitability; identify and implement corrective actions or process improvements as needed.
• Uphold a culture of continuous improvement and lessons learned across the Federal Studio.
• Champion recruitment efforts to attract and retain top federal design talent.
• Participate in business development efforts, including proposals, interviews, and presentations.
• Ensure the Studio’s Project financials are accurate and complete including invoicing and revenue projections.
• Oversee all aspects of federal projects, ensuring design excellence, quality, contract compliance, and client satisfaction.
• Support firmwide initiatives related to sustainability, technology, and design research within the federal market.
• Participate in the Architectural Leadership Team. Develop and implement initiatives to address issues or challenges.
• Maintain comprehensive understanding of federal contract terms, requirements, and compliance standards (FAR, DFARS, etc.).
• Ensure project data is accurate and up to date in all systems, including:
• Partner with the Federal Market Sector Principal to implement strategic growth initiatives within the federal market.
• Identify new opportunities and trends in federal design and construction to inform long-term strategic planning.
• Collaborate with engineering and QA teams to ensure compliance with federal standards, Design Quality Management Plans, and Quality Control procedures.
• Lead by example in building client trust and maintaining long-term relationships within the federal market.
• Oversee the Federal Studio’s Project team assignments and workload distribution between staff. Ensure FTE report is accurate and complete. Monitor, evaluate and adjust project assignments to ensure projects are delivered on schedule and in budget.
• Resolve project challenges and provide executive-level oversight across multiple active projects.
• Conduct employee performance reviews, provide coaching, and identify growth opportunities for architectural personnel.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in federal design and project management.
• Skilled in balancing multiple project priorities while maintaining quality and schedule.
• Licensed Architect or Licensed Engineer (PE) required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Deltek Vantagepoint; Revit experience preferred.
• Experience with Department of Defense and/or other federal agencies strongly preferred.
• Comprehensive knowledge of federal project delivery processes and compliance standards.
• Strong understanding of design, production, and project management processes.
• PMP certification a plus.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture or closely related field.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills with the ability to collaborate across disciplines.
• Ability to analyze data to drive financial and operational decisions.
• Proven ability to lead architectural teams within a multidisciplinary A/E environment.

Benefits

Training + Development

Interview process

Visa Sponsorship

Security clearance